The New Paris Podcast

How did Vincent van Gogh become a household name? Enter Jo van Gogh-Bonger—the woman single-handedly responsible for his legacy, and the inspiration behind Jo Piazza’s latest novel, The Parisian Heist. In this live recording from The Red Wheelbarrow in Paris, we sit down with the bestselling author to unpack her dual-timeline story, the mechanics of crafting a great art heist, her approach to writing complex female characters, and an exclusive teaser for her next book coming in 2027.

This episode was made possible by Lingoda! Use my code thenewparis50 at checkout and get 50€ off Lingoda Sprint until October 13!

Mentioned in this episode:

Jo Piazza

Jo on Instagram

The Parisian Heist

The Sicilian Inheritance

Everyone is Lying to You

Audio production & editing: Matthew Jordan

⁠Music by Little Glass Men⁠

In August, the cult-popular Parisian brand Sézane announced an aesthetic rebrand, a new direction. The reaction among consumers and critics was fast and fierce, and not overwhelmingly positive. I wondered what it signaled for the future of retail and commercial fashion, especially given my previous work reporting on the brand, so I brought back my former co-host, the fashion journalist Alice Cavanagh, to break things down. We also explore the shift away from archetypal Parisian style toward pan-European minimalism, the rise of vintage, and why shopping feels more uninspiring than ever in a world flooded with "sameness".

Mentioned in this episode:

Alice Cavanagh

Lindsey's Sézane piece in the NYT

The New Paris book

Lindsey & Alice interviews Glenn Martens

Sézane controversy

Lauren Sherman on the rebrand in Line Sheet

The vintage boom

Robin Givhan on Galliano at the Met  

LVMH finalists 

Audio production & editing: Matthew Jordan

⁠Music by Little Glass Men⁠

Coffee shops in Paris are exploding. In fact, a new one opens in Paris every 3 days, according to a recent study. That's a far cry from 20 years ago, when one cafe roasted and served specialty coffee: Le Caféothèque (which still exists!). What’s going on? Why has it accelerated, and can they all be considered specialty? Coffee roaster Mihaela Iordache, formerly of Belleville Brûlerie, joins me to analyze the state of things, what is and ISN'T truly specialty, and which places she keeps returning to. 

Mentioned:

Mihaela Iordache 

Changes to coffee trade

Joy x Beck

Tactile 

Paolina Caffè 

Klover Paris

France Culture episode

Beantropy / Christophe Servell / Terres de Café 

COMYU app by Rod Jounot

Audio production & editing: Matthew Jordan

⁠Music by Little Glass Men⁠

After writing the bestselling memoir A Waiter in Paris, Edward Chisholm is back with a much different kind of tale. He joins the show to talk about the fascinating story behind his latest book, 'Murder in Paris 68,' which explores the dark intersections of crime (the Markovic Affair), new wave cinema, and politics in 1960s France. Was superstar Alain Delon involved in one man's demise? Discover how Chisholm unraveled a complex web of lies, history, and culture to bring this true crime story to life.

This episode was made possible by Lingoda! Use my code TNP35 at checkout and get a discounted rate on Lingoda Flex until September 31.

Mentioned:

Edward Chisholm

Murder in Paris 68': A True Story of Death and Glamour (available in EU/UK now, pre-order for U.S.!)

A Waiter in Paris

Film version of A Waiter in Paris

Alain Delon films

Audio production & editing: Matthew Jordan

⁠Music by Little Glass Men⁠

Should chocolate be an everyday item? How much should it cost? How challenging is it to run a chocolate shop? All of those questions get answers with Jade Genin, chocolatière and daughter of Jacques Genin, whose shop on Avenue de l'Opéra in Paris approaches chocolate a bit differently.

Mentioned in this episode:

Jade Genin

Jacques Genin

Xoco  

Maxime Frédéric

Audio production & editing: Matthew Jordan

⁠Music by Little Glass Men⁠

10 years is almost an eternity in the restaurant world, and it’s a milestone that Pearl Lee reached with her business, The Hood. The Singaporean has run a Southeast Asian, in addition to a bánh mì sandwich and donut shop called Nonette across the street. I recently traveled with her through Singapore, a truly fascinating multiethnic and cultural melting pot, and I finally got to see firsthand how that plays out in its food. She joins me to talk about going from the corporate world to food, the hurdles she’s overcome in fulfilling her vision for the cafe, and educating diners about Southeast Asian flavors, particularly in Singapore, and why NOW Parisian diners are really latching on.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Hood

Nonette

Blk65

Bao Family 

Belimbing

Yeo’s

Audio production & editing: Matthew Jordan

⁠Music by Little Glass Men⁠

By now you’ve been inundated with images and news reports about the record-breaking heat crisis that hit nearly all of Europe last week, impacting France the most. The intensity of that was the cherry on top of a particularly punishing local news cycle in recent months, especially for CNN’s Paris bureau chief Saskya Vandoorne. She joins me to talk about what we can learn from the heat wave about our current climate crisis, as well as some of the very serious investigations she’s worked on since the start of the year. Warning: this episode contains discussions of sexual abuse and violence.

Mentioned in this episode:

Saskya Vandoorne, CNN

Heat wave in France

Paris is boiling

Gisèle Pelicot case

Investigation on abuse network

Exposing a global rape academy

Lyhanna case and justice system failures

Audio production & editing: Matthew Jordan

⁠Music by Little Glass Men⁠

Next month marks six years, if you can believe it, since The New Parisienne was released. I’ve kept tabs on all the women I profiled and some have become dear friends. Among them: Ariane Bernard who, at the time of our first interview, was overseeing all things digital at Le Parisien newspaper.  I distinctly remember the moment I met her. I heard her speak with the kind of cultural fluency and humor of someone reared in the United States. And yet, she wasn’t. I quickly learned she was perfectly bilingual but I also wanted to know how she accommodated the dualities of her identity. Today, she works for herself and goes between Paris and New York. We talk about her sequential bilingual journey, navigating two very different work cultures, and a few of her linguistic grievances. You’ll also hear which spots in Paris she returns to time and again. 

Want to learn French at your own pace with private or group classes online? Sign up for Lingoda. 

Mentioned in this episode:

Ariane Bernard 

Sequential bilingualism
Le Parisien 

Taboola 

Oh My Cream

Institut de France (18th century)

Cour Carré du Louvre Le Severo 

Audio production & editing: Matthew Jordan

⁠Music by Little Glass Men⁠

Moving to a new city can be both exciting and daunting, especially when it comes to making new friends. Paris, with its rich culture and vibrant social scene, may seem like the perfect place to forge connections. However, many newcomers often find it challenging to break into established social circles. Jane Bertch, entrepreneur, author, and podcaster at GenerateHER, joins me to talk about how we've made friends over the years and the etiquette of building contacts and friends in Paris, where cultural norms differ.

Mentioned in this episode:

Leaving America essay

Jane Bertch

GenerateHer Podcast

Prompts from Paris

Jane's episode on friendship

Amy Cuddy

Retreats with Jane

Audio production & editing: Matthew Jordan

⁠Music by Little Glass Men⁠

As you may know, chocolate isn’t created equal, and French style is very different from Belgian and Swiss confections. There are chocolate shops and pastry chefs who dabble in chocolate all over Paris, but within that network, there are clear differences in quality. Lisa Allen, a chocolate educator, pastry chef, and guide who runs Tarts & Truffles, joins me to talk about some of these distinctions, what she’s learned about chocolate over the years, and where she recommends you go for all your chocolate needs in Paris. 

Mentioned in this episode

Lisa Allen, Tarts & Truffles

Lisa on Instagram

Chuao

Dandelion Chocolate

Ferrandi Paris

Ara Chocolate

L'Instant Cacao

Patrick Roger

Jacques Genin

Plaq

Audio production & editing: Matthew Jordan

⁠Music by Little Glass Men⁠